It’s not the concept of Valentine’s Day I hate; it’s the forced romantic stuff I hate.

You know why? Because romance isn’t forced. Romance isn’t something that can be put on a calendar. Romance isn’t something that can be codified by Hallmark, Godiva and gas station roses.

Nope. Romance is firmly in the “you just never know” category. The when, where, why, and how of it all? You just never know

Like this ...

There’s this guy - let’s call him “Meff Fedelstein” - who back on Jan. 4, 1999, started a job at a local newspaper in Trenton. He was new to the area, didn’t really know anyone, wasn’t sure if it was a good fit or not.

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He was, in fact, thinking about moving back up to Morristown, where he used to live, or maybe back to New York, where he spent a few months trying to make it as a freelance writer. (He mostly just made it as a hard-drinking pothead barely scraping by.)

So he was ready to check out

Until March 1, which was the day a young woman started working at the same newspaper. He still remembers what she wore that day - a black skirt and pink sweater. He remembers how beautiful he thought she was. He remembers how she was filled with smiles and confidence, friendly with everybody. (Little did he know she knew a bunch of the people by way of familial relations, but whatever.)

A few weeks passed, and he worked up the courage to say hello, to stop by her desk, to engage in a little chit-chat.

But it wasn’t until six weeks later - a Tuesday, in fact - when he was leaving work for the day that opportunity struck in the form of a jammed photocopier.

See, Meff had spent a few years post-college aimlessly wandering about the job market, working mostly as an office temp. Not particularly mechanically inclined, he nevertheless developed a knack for finding the crumpled-up paper in the nether regions of broken-down copy machines.

So as he was leaving the office, he passed this lovely young lady who was standing at the copier, flummoxed.

“Let me have a look,” our handsome - did I mention he was handsome? - hero said.

He fixed the paper jam, they got to talking, and then he took the leap. He asked her out on a date, of sorts. A ride down to Manasquan. He and about 437 of his closest friends had rented a beach house for the coming summer, and he wanted to check it out. Dinner was planned. They were to leave post-work, that coming Thursday.

For the next 48 hours, Meff avoided this young woman. Wherever she was at work, he wasn’t. He didn’t want to give her a chance to break the date.

Thursday came, they took a drive, got to talking, shared a moment and … that moment continues to this day.

It’s been almost 15 years, and he still can’t believe how lucky he is. He really can’t. A lot of other people can’t fathom it, either. Meff and his wife often get the “she’s with him? Really?” looks from passing strangers..

But she is with him. And he loves every single minute of it.

Good story, eh?

Now let me tell you how I met my wife …

Kidding.

But see what I mean? If you think about the random string of events that got my wife and I in the same building - all the way up to the piece of crap photocopier - it boggles the mind. It couldn’t have been planned. As such,iIt was, by definition, romantic.

So on this Valentine’s Day, this made-up, forced bit of nonsense, remember this: You just never know when the real romance will strike. Can’t plan it. It just … happens.

Like it did to Erin Karre-Doan, who was in a car accident and fell in love with the tow truck driver. And to Ken Wolski, who met his wife in the dairy aisle of the supermarket. Or Darlene Hatchell Womack, who met her husband in an elevator. And to 132 other Greater Trenton (at one time or another) residents, who were kind enough to share their stories with me on Facebook.

Go check out my online version of this column; they’re all there, every story. Click on over and read them. Fascinating, every last one of them.

Read Jeff Edelstein every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at jedelstein@trentonian.com, facebook.com/jeffreyedelstein and @jeffedelstein.

Viki Cummings: I was in a car accident. He gave me a ride home afterwards. (He wasn’t involved in the accident.)

Jennifer Roslowski: He got hired at the store I was working at, and was adorable. I asked my manager if we could “keep him” and he moved him into my department. I then got the nerve up to stick my number to the back of his time card, and he thought that was gutsy enough to give me a call.

Danny Megill: I was set up with her as a revenge date, that was 26 years and 2 great kids ago. My friend was dating this girl and this other guy was dating my wife, both couples broke up and the guy that was dating my wife went after my friends ex, so as revenge against the other guy my friend set us up. It was only supposed to be a summer thing but we fell in love and the rest is history

Kim Moore: I was sitting in my truck having a lunch and he just came and sat with me and had lunch also.

Crystal Kulin Techanand: Me and Elijah were both dating and he was engaged. We would always hang out with each other and our significant others together. Then he moved away to get married and it didn’t work out and when he came back to New Jersey I was single as well and we started dating. We knew each other for years. Guess timing is everything

Jess Decina: We attended a mutual friend’s wedding. Plot twist: they got divorced less than a year later.

Jamie Scanlon: Found him on Plenty of Fish, was immediately attracted to him from his “bathroom selfies” haha

Vanessa Ksell Rudziewicz: I met my husband on a blind date set up by mutual friends.

Jed Knight: She has a thing for my cousin and he brought me out with him one night to meet her and her friends. She and I wound up talking to try and get them together and I with her friend. Neither worked out! 17 years later we got married!

Georgette Pela: I almost got into a bar fight, as I walked up the stairs, our eyes met & he said “I had $100 on you” ... love at 1st bet! LOL

Charles S. Cobb III: Dated her roommate!!!

Linda Ertel-Snyder: He worked on my car at a dealership.The next time he came to my house. It was a setup! Later, despite 7+ age difference, found out we know many of same people and have just missed running into each other for years!

Hilary Trought Morris: The blind date I was set up with introduced me to my hubby.

Anonymous: I met my second husband from the ads you guys use to run in the paper ... Man seeking lady etc etc or Or Lady seeking man who likes etc etc!!! Very funny my kids don’t even know it was from the newspaper!!!

Rebecca Shaw: Saw him driving and thought he was hot. Mentioned it to my cousin … turns out she knew him because she was dating his triplet. Odd twist though … both of our fathers were police officers and had worked together for 20+ years and we literally grew up around the corner from each other but had never met.

Christie Hague Met at Kathmandu … didn’t speak for years then rekindled again at Bar A

Dawn Brook: Which time? When I was 11 and his brother ran over my doll with his car, when I was 15 and he was an emt at the ER when I had my tonsils out, or when I was 19 and stalked him so he tried to get a restraining order on me?

Mlombz Spqr: While married my then wife brought her G/F home from work n that’s all they wrote. Been together since 12-97.

Keith Swango: We were volunteers with Mercer County Single Volunteers. Met her at the first meeting I went to. After meeting a group of us went to diner. I’m glad I talked her into going along.

Ron Towne: Put gas in her car and bought her a pack of cigarettes. Been together since.

Cee Stockton: Smittys Kicks, she was with mutual friend, who I let do the talking, knew I had 1 chance

Melanie Teresky: We were in same homeroom all 4 yrs of High school and never spoke. Ran into each other at Sportsmen’s Pub 9 yrs later and he came up to me and said “I loved you in HS” and the rest is history.

Jamie Hart: He was my boss......oooops

Anonymous: I met mine at a strip club. I was working there for 2 months before going to Israel. I didn’t have a job and it was a last resort to make a lot of money in a short time. I came over to him to get my tip and he had these big cheeks. I grabbed his face in the way that a grandmother would and screamed, “YOU HAVE THE CUTEST CHEEKS!” I ended up getting his number but I never called. After that, I got into a bad accident, he texted me because he had heard what happened. We went on one date and pretty much fell in love that same night. I consider him my soulmate.

Mary Coleman: Bill Adamshich and I met during the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs. We went to Chickie & Pete’s. I was with a guy friend, he was with a girlfriend. My friend asked if we could join their group table, Bill looked up, saw my Blackhawks jersey, and said sure, this will be fun. We made friends with three couples and agreed to meet for the remainder of the playoffs. So for three games, I was the only one in the bar cheering for the Hawks. On the last night, I had to park by a garbage bin (I was alone) and asked for someone to walk me out after the game. The Blackhawks won the Cup. The bar was deflated and I wanted to celebrate, so I asked a couple to walk me out. Bill took his girlfriend home, and she politely delivered his stuff and my phone number…the rest is history.

Megan Iurilli: We were neighbors on the same street but had never met. A mutual neighbor set us up at his daughter’s bat mitzvah. He said I looked lovely - it was a done deal after that.

Brian Hill In her cousin’s basement. 1964. Dave, her cousin, and I were practicing our swearing - Linda came down stairs and said ‘just because you swear it doesn’t make you any older’. I said ‘I am old enough for you any day of the week,’, she’s 2 years older … we went out two weeks later … saw the Great Race with Tony Curtis. We were off and on during the teen years but friends. Been married 42 years in May.

Erich M. Huhn: I was her tutor for her sophomore World History class, and we became friendly. I had a crush on her but didn’t think she liked me and I was seeing my ex at the time. Over the summer she texted to hang out, but we never had the time. When we were back in September we kept texting and I got the courage to ask her out. I left my ex of 2.5 years who was understandably furious and has been making my life hell. But it is the best decision I had ever made. She makes me the happiest man in the world.

Kimmie Fortier: Work and he claims that is was love at first sight.

Kathy Jones: Met him in college. He actually arranged for me to catch my then-boyfriend with another girl. I walked around the corner and saw them kissing. I was so hurt and my now hubby was right there to comfort me. He knew I was too good for that other guy and he wanted me for himself! 32 years later we are still together and I love him even more

Amanda Myers: Saw him reading a Star Wars book in the high school cafeteria. Shouted at him that it was an awesome choice.

Andrew Roth: She picked me up in a bar. I was with my girlfriend.

Crystal Hicks: Well. A friend of mine hooked me and ex up back in the early 80’s. I knew of him but didn’t get to know him until he came by my Grandmother’s house and asked to take me to see Luther Vandross in concert. I told him “No” and he was in shock. He said no girl had never told him no before. I was the first. I guess that’s what attracted him to me. From that point forward we decided to date and then we married in ‘84 divorced in the year 2000.

Melia Bognanno Rawlins: He was dating a friend/co-worker. She had a few of us over one night after work. When they split up we got together the next day. Turns out we had met before and I thought he was a HUGE (jerk).

Carolyn Stetson: I was hitchhiking to a peace march in Washington, DC in 1969. He picked me up.

Patrice Jetter: I met Mike in a sheltered workshop September 5, 1991. We started off as just friends and one thing led to another. We don’t remember the date we became a couple, so we made our anniversary the day we first met.

Tina Lopez: Met hubby through lava life, a telephone dating service

Diana Gerace: In Church!

Erin Karre-Doan: By accident! No seriously! I was in a car accident and he towed me!

Sherri Barrett: Went to the same high school but he was older than me. Years later, met at the Elks Lodge

Catherine Hutchinson Ferdetta: I was a bartender and worked with his friend. He would come in when his friend was working. I was just flirting to get a good tip.

Cameron Ferrara: She came to a New Year’s party at my house. When I asked for her number she gave me the wrong one on purpose. I finally got the right one and 11 years later and we are engaged.

Sean Ramsden: I met her in a job interview; I was part of the panel that interviewed her (for a job you can bet she landed!).

Tim Johnson: Riding thru the burg in 1969 said to my friend, “stop I think I know those girls sitting on the porch” … of course I didn’t. Two weeks later ran into them and a few more friends at Seaside … 45 years later still together.

Ian Ingham Blind date set up by an ex-girlfriend.

John Costello: Met my wife on MySpace. Saw her picture, thought she was cute so I messaged her. We chatted back and forth for a while. The first time I saw her in person was at my apartment for movie night. Been married 7 years and two kids now.

Jeffrey Matthews: Met my wife at the old Granada, how i miss that place.

Maryanne Bush: I met him at a funeral. His sister’s father in law had died and my intent was to go to the viewing, but it was Super Bowl Sunday 1985 and ice covered the streets of Trenton. So I took the morning off and went to the funeral to pay my respects. There he was and 7 months and two days later we were married in the same church the funeral was held in. Like I say our marriage started at a funeral and it will end at one. The question sometimes, is who will be in the coffin and who in handcuffs? LOL

Lisa M Migliaccio: My husband used to be my brother’s boss so I quit my job and got a job with my brother so he would be my boss too and we have been married 32 years in March

Carol Scheese Kenny: Met at the Club Capri in Levittown in February 1981. Got married November 1981. Thirty-two years later and still together.

Sarah Piccinetti: Went to high school together but didn’t really know each other. Reconnected on facebook early 2010, started dating July 2010 and were married April 2011. He’s my soul mate!

Mike Bielamowicz: We were both Physical Education Students at Trenton State College in the same program. Didn’t meet her face to face until we attended the Teachers Convention in Atlantic City. Didn’t have her in any classes, but when I saw her at the Convention, I had to meet her. I was from Lawrenceville and she was from Skillman. That was November of 1982, and we’ve been married for 27 years.

Frank J Sconzo Sr: I PICKED HER UP IN AN ALLEY, A BOWLING ALLEY. SHE WAS BOWLING ON AN OPPOSING TEAM AND AFTER THE GAME SHE ASKED ME OUT FOR DRINKS, HER TREAT. I PAID, AND AFTER NEARLY 30 YEARS, I AM STILL PAYING!

Jen Snow: A blind date set up by my best friend Melanie Teresky after 1 date we’ve been joined at the hip.

Daniel W. Disharoon Jr: An online game called Gemstone ... she was in North Dakota at the time.. I was here. Two years playing the game ... she took a bus to New Jersey I drove her to a wedding and never let her leave.

Wendy Wisely-Marano: It will 20 years tomorrow ... We meet in the snow storm of 94 … my sister dropped me off at a local bar, told her I would get a ride home … and found the lucky(un) and have been together ever since. 15 years married. By the way, he had a broken ankle so he could not get far!

Scott Simmins: Met my wife while working at Lord & Taylor when she was a sophmore in college, got her phone number on my last day working there, that was 16 years ago this year. We got engaged on our 9th dating anniversary and got married 10 years to the day I got her number 8/27/2008.

Rhiannon de Cesare: Met through a mutual friend. I told said friend, I thought his friend was cute, and asked him to put in a good word. I was told to “get in line...” Randomly ran into that cute boy about a month later (through a series of random coincidences) and we hit it off. Going on 5 years now!

Ken Wolski: I ran into her in the dairy aisle of a supermarket. 23 years later we are still shopping together.

Raych N Elm: Love at first site at the Quaker Bridge mall. (lol) Saw him and a friend sitting outside of Journeys, they followed us outside, started talking been together.

Joe D’Angelo: My wife was dating the singer in my band (when I was 18 years old) and his car broke down and he asked me to be his driver for the night. Originally I said no but he filled my tank so … anyway, I was their driver that day and it turned out the Patrice (my wife) had more in common with me than with my singer and we connected. Needless to say the band broke up but 25 years later, we’re still together

Michele Fuccello-Vandertuyn: Catholic grammar school.....

Amy Agin Weinhofer: Hubby was a bartender in I lived in the apartment over the bar.

Anonymous (because no one wants to get fired …): He was a tech in our company and was in charge of computer and phone moves. He broke my phone so id have to place a trouble ticket to have it fixed. He arranged to be the one ti come fix it. Meanwhile, I knew he went out for smoke breaks so I’d pretend to smoke so I could be out there when he was. Eventually I had to even buy my own cigarettes that I didn’t smoke because he’d ask to bum one iff of me. Eventually we started dating at which time i confessed to not smoking (in fact, I despise it) and he confessed to breaking my phone. 15 years and 2 kids later still together and happily married

Stacey Truelove Burns: Meet him down at LBI at a bar … he bit me on the cheek … love at first bite! Almost 17 years and three kids later and he can still nibble my cheek

Wendy Smith Anderson: I am a hairdresser, he was a manager of a Cumberland Farms that I went to daily. I thought he had great hair. I would tell the girls at the shop how cute I thought he was and that I loved his hair and beard. One girl that I worked with told me that he wore a toupee, and that she knew him. Day or two later, was back at his store and he asked me what did I do, where do I work. I told him I was a hairdresser and he asked if I could perm his hair. I said that I don’t know how to perm wigs. He just looked at me and said, “This isn’t a wig, it’s my real hair.” Foot in mouth!!!

Meggin Christiansen: I met my husband at the psychiatric hospital … OK, so we both worked there but it still sounds funny!! And 10 years later we are still “crazy” about each other!! Lol

Eric Maywar I met when my wife tried to steal my backpack.

Ynohtna Deer At a Cabaret my sister asked me to attend with her. My (now) wife also brought a ticket and attended the event. She was my sister’s friend & didn’t even know my sister had any brothers because she never talked about us. We were supposedly “no good & womanizers”! Lol My sister fought hard to persuade my wife not to get involved, but she remained steadfast with her own decision & judgement and now WE HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR 14 YEARS & MARRIED FOR 3! Gotta love it! Lol

Cindy Nilsson-Larkin: Met him at the Hibernians in 2004. Married him in September 2011. Still newlyweds!

Rich Jordine We met on an IRC (Internet Relay Chat) group. This was in 1998, in the AOL dialup days and well before online dating became a “thing”. It was a social group for people 30 and over who were going through divorce or separation. We chatted and talked on the phone for 4 months as she was here in NJ and I lived in Jacksonville, Florida. She came to visit me and that sealed the deal, as we were already in love. I moved to NJ a month later and we were married exactly a year from the day we met in person. That was 16 years ago and I couldn’t have asked for a better wife!!!

Beth Cass: Blind date!!!

PJ Vinch: On a repo. And that’s the truth bugs.

Robin Clausen: Math class freshman year. The girl in front of me smelled like butt so I moved back a seat putting me next to my now boyfriend of 11 years. I now teach math!

Gerri Hoffman: Will try to be brief..while at TSC, I worked PT downtown ..had to go to the bank often for the boss … Bruce worked at the outside walk up part of NJ Nat’l bank … he waited at bus stop where I waited for my dad … I wanted Bruce to introduce me to his co- worker … I subbed for a friend in a Sunday bowling league. Bruce was there also in a leagu … he was moved inside the bank ... didn’t see him for a while … then when I did said he might need a bowling partner the next year so I asked him to my bowling banquet. Then went on a date… never looked back...Now married for 35 yrs and Bruce still tells everyone he only wanted a bowling partner!! lol

Deborah Stout Boutote: He answered an alarm at the store I worked at it ‘87 love at first sight! Married almost 25 years!

Joyce Wachhaus Gifford: Getting my mother out of a bar

Vincent Wright: We met at YO VINNIES an old chambersburg bar in 99 married in 2000 15 years and going strong

Lisa Volk Parsley: Met online playing pogo bowl. He lived in Texas & drove up here to meet me a few weeks later, lol never left, married 5 years he’s my best friend & the love of my life

Melinda Madley Sciarrotta: My hubby and I have been together 30 years this month -- he was friends with my first husband who passed away at a very young age. Frank sent me a Valentine (before we began dating) that read, “I don’t send Valentines to every nut I know...just to nice nuts like you.” We have worked at the same place for 25 years, going to and from work together, having lunch together everyday, and spending our time at home together. We are ALWAYS together! Frank is my love, my best friend, my everything Our 29th wedding anniversary is in September 2014.

Brenda Borcsik: I was dating his friend who was also a member of a Rescue Squad in 1976. He passed me a note. When I got home and read it it said, “When your done wasting your time with this jerk and you want to be treated right, give me a call.” I called him the next day. We’ve been married going on 38 years. Best call I ever made!

Heather Grove: At a hockey game: he was out with someone & when we ran into each other (knew of him, not him so much) he was trying to avoid me because of her. Well, I was on a terrible blind date so when I saw him I just wanted to talk to him to get away from my horrible date. 7+ years later & we are still total opposites but still madly in love.

Kelly Shepsko: Singing karaoke at the bar. I was singing, and he is a musician, so he approached me to collaborate. Needless to say, we still record when we can 3 years later!

Vanessa Thompson: I met Mike in 1989 when I was a freshman and he a junior at Hamilton West ... I actually had a big crush on him and even told friends that I was going to marry him one day, but of course he was too busy chasing blondes to even notice my existence. Over the years, we stayed friends but I had forgotten all about my “crush”. I got married and divorced, he was engaged and that didn’t work out either. Through the years our paths always seemed to cross. Then the summer of 2011 there was a show I really wanted to go to at the Stone Pony but my boyfriend at the time laughed in my face at the thought of going to see a bunch of “has been hair bands” so knowing Mike would be going, I pretty much invited myself along with him and his friends. Two years later, this past September, Mike and I got married right on stage at the Stone Pony!

Darlene Hatchell Womack: My husband and I met on an elevator. I was running late. He was running early. The rest is history. Story of our lives 24 years later.

Tracey Carr Davis: I married my 8th grade science teacher. I was a student at Jr 4 which is now Grace A Dunn. We later worked together at Trenton High School and that is where we started dating and got married. We have been married for 21 years. I still have my report card to prove he was my teacher.

Donna McElrea: I worked at a grocery/deli and he was my Abbotts ice cream driver. Remember the slogan for Abbotts? It was “Grab-an-Abbott’s” and I did. Just celebrated our 30th, and he still puts the cherry on top!

Gino Formaroli: I am in a summer league bowling with this guy who I only really know through a mutual friend. … One night at the lanes he turns around and his girlfriend is standing there. She screams some real vicious stuff at him, and throws a Coke in his face. (Later I am told that he cheated on her real bad and everyone knew and she found out) I said “girl’s got spunk.” A friend gave me her phone number… that was 1988… we married in 1992 and are still married!

Caitlin Lugo: I met my husband on April 28, 2010 at jojos restaurant in Hamilton on karaoke night. He was with his friends, I was with mine and he came up to me and asked me to go up and sing with his friend and I declined. We then started flirting and I sat down at his table next to him and we started talking. I got his phone number before I left and we’ve been inseparable ever since. We were married on September 16, 2011. We have a beautiful 13 month old baby boy and I have a step daughter from his previous marriage.

Michele Conard: My hubby and I met 40 years ago next month at Trenton workshop players, a community theatre group. I was the stage manager and he was an actor. The show was Of Mice and Men. Briz and I have now been married for 35 years. We have 2 awesome sons and we are still very much in love.

Jon Lambert: We worked at separate record stores in Quakerbridge Mall in the 80’s and co-workers introduced us.

Joanne Power Nichols: We met on yahoo personals in 2000.

Wendy Guinn Salvatore: This lady in nail salon asked if I was willing to meet her son I’m exactly his type. What could I say she was so nice. He was embarrassed never showed to meet me and friends. I forgot all about it. I met my husband at Joe’s Mill Hill over a year later. About a month into our relationship he goes “Remember a lady trying to hook you up with her son in the nail salon?” That’s my mother. Haha weird!! It was driving me nuts I knew she looked familiar!

Adam Levine: Met working at Disney in 1999.

Merlin Maruska: Wife and I were good friends growing up through grammar and high school..... she married, divorced... I was engaged twice (different women).... 34 years ago her sister invited me to a party at her house... walked inside and the room went electric when we saw each other...... 34 years later she is still my wife, best friend and one of the nicest human beings I’ve ever met....I still can’t believe she married me!

Dan Tozzi: Meet my fiance in a bar having drink an two girls were about to engage in an scuffle I bet my buddy on who was gonna win ... And that’s how I meet her because my bet was on her and I shared my winnings over some drinks.

Brooke Titus-Gray: I met my hubby, of 17 years, 18 years ago, at MCCC. We had English lit, together. He says he walked in, looked around, found the prettiest girl, and sat next to her. At lunch, he came and sat with my brother and I. At 1st he thought we were a couple. Once he found out, we were siblings, he tured on the charm. Since his mom’s bday is Valentines Day, he asked me to dinner, 2/15. I wasn’t looking for a relationship. I had just gotten out of the Air Force and a bad relationship, that left me with my boy/girl set of twins. Matt was quite persistent, and 6 months later, he proposed to the twins and I, at the Philly zoo.

Rachel M Bailey: We met at a Bar-B-Q thrown by my friends. Alex came as a guest of a mutual friend … Alex sat down near Rachel with a plate piled high with food and the conversation went something like this…

Alex: I am going to eat all of this food.

Rachel: Uh huh

Alex: I am going to be in pain when I am done.

Rachel: Uh huh

Alex: Then I will get up and eat more.

And he did and she has been feeding him ever since.

Khürt Williams: We’ve been married for 18 years but we met 27 years ago in college. She was the secretary of the international student club and I was new to the USA. Took me over 7 years to get a first date and then two more years to convince her to marry me. Toughest challenge of my life.

April Michal: Radio USA in the Forrestal Village in Princeton. Yes a bar/nightclub. Met, talked, exchanged numbers and later my girlfriend and I went to The Princetonian Diner and he showed up had breakfast. The following weekend we went out to dinner at the Tiger Tails and Drinks at the Tap Room he made me remember all the names of his 9 brothers and sisters and the rest is history. Good thing I have a good memory, I guess I pasted the test.

Noreen L. Sherwood: Met 5 years ago at Karaoke at Buffstones just before it closed.

David Rosen: Fraternity party -- Penn State

Cindy Oldenburg-Harrison: My best friend dated my husband 5 years before I did. We were friends but I told her back then that I wouldn’t date him if he was the last man on earth..Oh my..Well, 5 years after she dated him, she invited me over to watch a movie and him to watch a movie, I had a key to her apartment and she told me she had an errand to run, to let myself in and low and behold my husband was sitting on the stairs waiting for her, but it was me. We are all still friends, she was in our wedding and is our child’s Godmother.

Dawn Marie Santivansky-Applegate: 10th grade hs sweethearts.

Mark Brodowski: This skinny blonde girl invited me to a school Halloween party. I wasn’t going to go but another girl talked me into going telling me that if a girl asked me to go that I should. She gave the dress she was wearing and shoes, fixed my hair and sent me on my way. The party was packed but this guy tapped me on the shoulder, turned me around and kissed me on the lips. I married that blonde skinny girl dressed like a man about 30 years ago.

Jim Weave:r Met mine while on a date with another woman. The date was a bummer so I sent her home in a cab and the rest is history.

Patricia Knight Carr: I met my husband through his best friend to whom I dated about a year before him. Then the best friend became our best man at our wedding! 32 years later still married and of those 32 years we have worked together 29 years (self-employed).

Jennifer DiNatale: 22 years ago I had a Huge crush on my husband. Everyone knew it but him. I was too shy to tell him and my friends didn’t feel the need to help me. So years go by. I get married and have 1 children. I heard he was married and divorced. I hadn’t seen him in all those years. 5 years ago I got divorced. I always asked about him but still didn’t see him. Thanksgiving eve at cedar gardens hosted by John Rossi 2010 I go with some friends and who is there but the man I had a crush on from years ago. I ran up to him and hugged him so tight. Come to find out he was single and so was I. I told how I felt about him. He was shocked. He wished he knew about it. Today we are married and happy. He really is my soulmate. He is such an amazing dad to my children. They adore and love him so much. I am so blessed.

Kim Cocciolillo-Sommers: Met at KatManDu on a Friday during the $5. Happy Hour Buffet. I was sitting at the bar with my girlfriend & saw a handsome guy come in order a beer, go around the buffet & then stood at the end looking at his plate & beer in his hands … the person next to me got up. ...I looked at my girlfriend & jumped up & said (which I never did before)the seat next to me just opened up, why don’t you sit down & eat, which he did. We talked & laughed & talked & laughed some more & then he asked for my phone number I gave it to him (my home number which I never gave out!) He said you have got to be kidding me?! I said no that is my home number ...he looked kind of freaked out & said wow the last 4 digits are the same last 4 digits of my Social Security number. So needless to say karma had a hand in everything & we have been married for almost 6 years now.

Mary Fink: Met husband one and two thru a best friend.

Alexis Simms Hubbard My husband’s grandmother lived acrossed the street. We have know each other since we were 6, over 25 years We grew up as neighborhood playmates and started dating Sr Year in high school, married 10 years together 15.

Joannie Eggert: We were both letter carriers at the Princeton Post Office. I had a walking route and he drove the Parcel Post truck delivering the large parcels in the same area. I didn’t really talk to him much, until we both went to a party hosted by some coworkers. I was at the party with a guy I was dating at the time and we all were talking about a rafting trip I planned to go on with my date and some of his friends. Several weeks later, my future husband and I were at the time clock at the end of our shift, and he asked me if I had gone on the raft trip. I explained to him that I didn’t, I was no longer dating the guy, and I was pretty upset about the whole thing. A few days later, we crossed paths again, I was still sad, and he asked if I wanted to go out for a drink after work. I couldn’t go for some reason, but I thought that it was very nice that a sympathetic coworker wanted to cheer me up. (Didn’t even occur to me that it was anything more than that) He asked me again on two more occasions, and I finally realized he was asking me out! Then I decided to break a personal rule about not dating a coworker, and went to watch him play softball (he played in a local league) I took a friend and her son along, because I still wasn’t sure, but after the game, they went home and I went out for a burger with him at a nearby pub. The rest is history…

Lisa Cento Zita: I met my husband when I was 15 years old getting on the school bus....I was crying over my then boyfriend and all he did was make fun of me for crying over some “stupid” guy.......hated him for a few days after that and then we grew to be best friends....20 years later, we are still the best of friends!!!

Jack Warwick: I had 6 tix for a Billy Joel concert, my brother had a custom van and was going to drive us like a limo. One ticket was for someone I was casually seeing, she (ticked) me off, so I offered the ticket up .My 2 friends, who were going with us, suggested a co-worker. So one or two champagne corks shot out the side door on I-95 and a Billy Joel concert, here we are “Married with Children” 28 years later.

Corinne Gallo: I met the love of my life in April of 1975 at the lounge in Hamilton Bowling Lanes. Had a first date the following month on Mothers Day. we were engaged 2 months later and married the following May 1976. 3 children and 3 grandchildren later, we are are still in love and crazy about each other!

Ryan Kennedy: Pun filled law school a Cappella group called “Esquire.”

Dee Vandegrift: My husband & I were introduced by a mutual friend. I was working in a pediatrician’s office and a patient who I knew for a long time told me she had someone who would be perfect for me!! That was so true!! My husband & I will be married 22 years this coming June 13th. He is my best friend & soul mate!

Robin Tanzini-Meltzer: My blind date introduced me to my hubby! Needless to say, I ended the date & married his best friend!

Howard Seidman: Got her # from a friend in Parsippany who married one of her brothers. Friend’s mom was my Spanish teacher at Parsippany High School. Talked on phone. Went on first date at Marita’s Cantina in New Brunswick. Now I’m related to my Spanish teacher.

Helen Young: I put a add in the trentonian 20 years ago and the rest is history.

Bill Szumski: Match.com.

Lee Edinger Smith: At the former Ice House on Swan Street in the Burg. I went there with a girlfriend and her boyfriend. I spotted my future husband and had to meet him. Thought he was so handsome.

Christine Kelly: I was playing a game of pool at what use to be The Hamilton Pub in Trenton and overheard my future husband ask a guy that I was best friends with if I was dating anyone. We started dancing and as of this past October we have been VERY happily married for 17 years!

Karen Blaisdell Faiman: I was a blood donor recruiter for the Red Cross. I was at his company doing some PR and helping the volunteers during a blood drive and met him (while he was giving blood).

Cathy Swickle Johnson: My hubby worked at the mission store and came to the newspaper where i worked (paper shall remain anonymous...!) to p/u one more item that i forgot to include in my initial donation after selling my townhouse. he followed me to my car and told me later that he couldn’t take his eyes off me in my black leather harley jacket and my jeans...enjoyed my rear! march will mark 10 years from that first meeting

Helene Vitella: Okay, here goes. I was working at Crecco’s in the Burg and on Saturday nights we used to host “Hopper” (Tony Cardelli) to sing all of those great Sinatra favorites. I liked working the bar tables, it was great money, the usual suspects, and what the heck, I had no where better to go on Saturday nights. The other restaurant staffs loved to frequent our bar after their shifts. This one certain (cute) bartender used to come in with what I thought was his “crew” some nights and his “women” other nights. Of course, he was always picking up their tabs. He would come with this one certain waitress - beautiful - every so often, who ironically would come to eat with her own family (husband/child) on other days. Hmmm, I thought. This girl is just too busy and the bartender is clearly not worthy but to each his own! Fast forward a couple of weeks. The waitress/date strikes up conversation with me...I guess the bartender can’t entertain her enough? She wants to know about my social life, if I date? Yes, I’m suspicious. I tell her I’m busy, working hard, I just bought a house, can’t really find any good guys to date right now! She points to her date and says, “he’s a nice guy”. I say, yes, I noticed you are with him a lot... on Saturdays (note sarcasm). To which she replies, Oh? This is my brother-in-law. I’m married to his brother! You thought he was my??? Ummm... We got married 11 months later. The “waitress”, her “husband”, and the daughter were of course in the wedding. May 15, 2014 we all celebrate 20 years!

Joyce DiBenedetti: My family moved from Trenton to Hamilton Square. We moved across the street from a house with a really good looking young man living there. About a week or two after we moved there, that young man came across the street and introduced himself to my father. I happened to be working outside with my father, so my father then introduced me to that good looking young man. We went on our first date that night. This May we will be married 46 years, have 3 children, 7 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Samantha Kaminker Pae: I met Rich On Facebook, my father used to be his doctor.

Debbie Ahlers Latham: Todd and I met at the Colorado Cafe. He asked my friend Colleen Miller Liedl to line dance. She said no (was waiting for her now husband to arrive) so he asked me (or settled for me). That was 15 years ago, 12 years married and two kids!!

Diane Gutierrez: My guy worked withme at olive garden, I told him I couldnt date an employee, he got a job in a barber shop, quit, and asked me out the next day. 4 months later we got married.

Sebastiano Stia: At the gym, I watched her for quite a while never thinking should would give me the time of day. Heard her say her iPod was not working, told her I could fix it. Did it and 7 years later we were married.

Kelly Dansbury DeMarcello: My mother was married to his uncle. I met him when we were teenagers then I didn’t see him for years. My mom and his uncle ended up divorcing . I ended up go to see my ex- stepfather at work one night when he bar tending and my now husband was in there . We started talking and one thing lead to another . We have been married 22 years .

Jessica Deluca Neel: I met my husband when we were 16, we fought over pink Starburst.

Melissa Rafferty Hooper: My college roommate would chat with a Marine on my computer. One day I hopped online and I told him I was the roommate. He said “so you’re the cute blonde”. A hurricane struck and his base had to be evacuated. I offered for him to crash on my futon. Been together ever since.

Kevin Parrish: Don’t want to know... but it’s still going on 15 years and strong.